Gary

Gary, city (1990 pop. 116,646), Lake co., NW Ind., a port of entry on Lake Michigan; inc. 1909. Gary was founded by the U.S. Steel Corporation, which purchased the land in 1905 and landscaped it for a city. In 1908 the first blast furnace was lit to begin the vast lakefront steel complex that was to dominate U.S. steel production and become one of the world's greatest steel centers. Gary steelworkers were especially active in the nationwide steel strike of 1919, when federal troops occupied the city for several months. In the 1970s and 80s the city's steel industry declined dramatically, leading to large-scale plant closings and high unemployment. There is still some iron and steel processing, Manufactures also include tin, steel, and paper products; beverages; medical supplies; consumer and dairy goods; and apparel. Indiana Univ. Northwest is in Gary. The city has an airport and a civic center, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is nearby (see National Parks and Monuments (table)).